Priming tools, bench-mounted.

[Crashbox]

Because of aggravating an old on-the-job injury from priming the cases on my progressive reloading press, I am considering the purchase of a bench-mounted priming tool for the task.

Any input, advice, information, et cetera on these devices- pros and cons- would be a tremendous help. I'm looking mainly at the RCBS and Forster ones but am keeping an open mind. Thanks a bunch in advance.

 

[cfullgraf]

I use a hand priming tool, but the RCBS primer strips, APS or something like that, look interesting for primer handling.

Individually handling of primers is what has turned me off on bench priming tools in the past.

I think the strips can be refilled although that may be more trouble than it is worth.

 

[rfwobbly]

RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool



GOOD: This unit primes on the down stroke and the long lever makes easy work of priming. The "feel" is good, and the handle is padded for the required comfort. Primers are loaded (stabbed) into standard RCBS primer tubes. Swapping between large and small primer takes about 3 seconds and requires no tools.

NOT SO GOOD: This unit has to be bolted to something substantial. At a minimum, a bench top or a chunk of 1x4 long enough to clamp down. It requires the use of a standard shell holder for each caliber, which are sold separately. The priming is on the down-stroke, but the primer is loaded on the up-stroke. So the operation requires a full up-stroke then down-stroke to complete a single cartridge. This feels unnatural to me.

The thing that spoils this priming tool IMHO is all the extra brass handling that's required. If I had a press like a RCBS Rock Chucker, Redding T-7, or Lyman T-Mag which offered an optional in-the-press priming system, then I would much rather use that. If you already have the case in the shell holder, I'd much rather make a second stroke and do "in-press" priming. Especially if you are loading 200+ pistol rounds.


However, if your requirements are not speed related, or say you only need to load 50 perfect rifle rounds, then this priming tool offers advantages in the way of flexibility and "feel".

 

[ants]

Forster has an excellent tool

I bought the CoAx Primer Seater several years ago. It is excellent. About $20 less than RCBS.

It has the Forster adjustable jaws, adjust to fit any cartridge (no shellholder needed) except 50 BMG.

I don't bolt it down. I just use it as a portable table top model.

It feeds from tubes. Each tube holds about half a 100 primers. You can buy extra tubes.

For some reason it's rather picky about the tube not being bent in half, so don't sit on one unless you have a backup. I guess I shoulda been more careful. Only 8 bucks, no big deal.

 

[sweater914]

I have my dad's old RCBS bench mounted priming tool circa 1980. It looks like a miniature press, first insert the appropriate shell holder, then insert a primer ram (large or small), primers are inserted individually into the primer ram cup. It's tedious but after some practice I can knock out 100 case in about 10-15 minutes. The part number escapes me.

 

[EddieNFL]

I have used the model Wobbly pictured for about 30? years now. If you want to prime off the press, but not use a hand tool, it works very well. Offers a better feel than press priming and is quick.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Ants: How is the *feel* when priming?

 

[Waywatcher]

I bought the one rfwobbly posted a picture of.

I tried a couple different hand primers and priming on the press. The self contained unit has the best feel, easily. Maybe I'm a "sensitive" guy, but the hand primer units had too much 'feel' and the press too little. The bench primer is juuuust right. The only con in my mind is bench space, but it is worth it. I remove the handle from the unit when I'm not using it.

 

[rfwobbly]

The only con in my mind is bench space, but it is worth it.

I bolted mine to a 1x4 x12" and clamp that temporarily to the bench top. When I'm finished it goes back on the shelf.

 

[Crashbox]

Thanks a great big bunch to y'all who responded to this.

I just ordered one of the RCBS bench-mounted priming tools as pictured in rfwobbly's post, from Midsouth. Done business with them before (excellent IMO) and the price was right.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[cheygriz]

Another vote for the bench mounted RCBS. Before going to a Dillon, I loaded many, many rounds primed on this neat little tool. I still use it evey now and then for test loads that I load on the Redding single stage.

 

[ants]

Kevin: Ants: How is the *feel* when priming?

Superb. You can feel the anvil & cup bottom out. No need to jamb harder just to make sure it's bottomed. You can feel the primers pausing at the crimp ring on an unswaged crimped pocket, then breaking free to bottom out under the ring.

I suspect the RCBS unit is the same way. Both have similar mechanical advantage, I wouldn't be surprised if the tactile feedback is essentially identical.

Forster comes with two separate pins - large & small. It takes about 3 seconds to switch. It also has a rudimentary provision for loading the primer tubes. There is a little tray cast into the base with a loading chute at the back. You dump your primers into the tray, shake a little to turn them upright, then push them into the tube. It isn't high tech by any means, but at least you aren't handling the little suckers one by one, stuffing them individually into an aluminum tube. No primers rolling on the bench, none on the floor.

I think you will do well with either tool. I just seem to be drawn to tools with Forster's name on it. Same with Redding. Those tools please me.

 

[osprey176]

been using my rcbs auto prime for about 25 years now and still love it. i screwed it to a short section of 2x4,and just clamp it in the vise on my bench.when i'm done,i remove it and hang it on the pegboard behind my bench,out of the way till next time.

 

[Offfhand]

The best bench mounted priming tool I know of is the Gun-Clinic brand. They can be adjusted to seat primers by "feel" or seated to a specific depth. They are finely made and operation is extremely smooth and sensitive. In fact, they may have even been too good, in that they were probably expensive to make and discontinued after being made only a relatively short while. They occasionally show up for sale (ebay, etc.) so well worth searching for as they are the best of the best and a pleasure to use, as well as a joy to own. Attached is a photo, so you'll know what you're looking for.

 

[flashhole]

I use the old style RCBS bench mounted tool. I keep one set up for small primers and one for large. You can see them on the left side of my bench. I wouldn't trade them off for any other kind.

 

[HOWARD J]

crashbox

You will love the RCBS auto priming tool.
Mine is almost 30 years old--I still works like new
I had to put an extension on my handle--give me more pressure--my hands don't work as well as the tool anymore---I can still feel the primer going in the case. Have fun----------

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[Crashbox]

I just received the RCBS tool yesterday and will probably set it up this weekend. One thing that really impressed about it is the fact that it is made of REAL METAL! And I'm sure the tactile feedback for seating primers is much superior to doing so on a progressive.

It also appears to use the exact same primer tubes as my LnL AP

 

[rfwobbly]

Just like all the good balance scales come from Ohaus, I do believe 1 company makes all the primer tubes. If you think about it, it makes sense. The ID of the tube has to have a fairly tight tolerance to keep the primer from flipping over. The strength of the tube has to be fairly high in case the primers explode. How many companies are going to want to play with that?

 

[Crashbox]

Just like all the good balance scales come from Ohaus, I do believe 1 company makes all the primer tubes. If you think about it, it makes sense. The ID of the tube has to have a fairly tight tolerance to keep the primer from flipping over. The strength of the tube has to be fairly high in case the primers explode. How many companies are going to want to play with that?

I totally agree- I was pretty much thinking the same thing. Definitely a specialty item.

I sure wish the Vibra-Prime devices were still made, but that's another subject...

Now to design a mount for it so I can temporarily- but solidly- attach it to my bench... shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Strip primer...

Crashbox--My bud, who only has the use of 1 hand, wanted to start reloading. He & I worked out that the way for him to get the priming done was with the RCBS strip primer--No handling of individual primers, AND no loading them into tubes either! "Feel" is "good enough;" I like the "feel" of a hand-held much better but for my bud we go with what works.

He sizes/deprimes his cases, then moves the tray of cases to the primer machine, which is bolted to his bench--does a whole run of cases through the primer, then moves the tray of cases back next to his turret press and does the rest of the loading.

With one hand, everything takes longer, but, we have a system that for him is do-able, and that's what counts.

 

[flashhole]

"With one hand, everything takes longer, but, we have a system that for him is do-able, and that's what counts."

I just love a story with a happy ending. Good for him.

 

[rfwobbly]

dup!

 

[rfwobbly]

Now to design a mount for it so I can temporarily- but solidly- attach it to my bench... shouldn't be too difficult.

Unless you have unlimited bench space you're probably making things MORE difficult on yourself. Attach the unit to a hunk of board and clamp the board in place while using it. Then when you're NOT using the priming device, it can get out of the way and make room for something else.



I've done this with my trimmer, powder measure, and priming tool. It is extremely helpful to be able to open up bench space when I need it. Besides, what if your arm or back starts to hurt after 15 primers? Me, I just unclamp and re-position.

 

[MarkDozier]

If you don't mind holes in your bench, drilll mointing holes. Uing hex head bolts, 2 washers for top and bottom and wing nuts is a fast put on -take off method that is solid.

 

[DM~]

This is why i have a good working vise on my reloading bench,



I have tools, like my Forester trimmer mounted on blocks of wood, and hold them in place with the vise.

DM